Method, system and gaming machine for playing a card game

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of playing a card game. The method includes receiving one or more bets from each of multiple players, displaying multiple hand cards from a card deck, receiving one or more hand card selections from each of the multiple players and displaying multiple flop cards selected from the card deck. Further, the method includes receiving one or more of a bet, a call, and a fold from each of the multiple players in response to selection of the multiple flop cards. Further, the method includes displaying one or more turn cards selected from the card deck and displaying one or more river cards selected from the card deck. Moreover, the method includes forming multiple hands corresponding to the multiple players. Further, the method includes identifying a winning hand from the multiple hands and rewarding the player associated with the winning hand.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a card game, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one bet from each of a plurality of players;   displaying a plurality of hand cards from a card deck, wherein a count of the plurality of hand cards is at least equal to a count of the plurality of players;   receiving at least one hand card selection from each of the plurality of players based on placement of corresponding at least one token of a plurality of tokens associated with the plurality of players, wherein the at least one hand card selection selects at least one hand card from the plurality of hand cards, wherein receiving a hand card selection from a player corresponding to a hand card comprises placing at least one token proximal to the hand card, wherein the at least one token corresponds to the player;   displaying a plurality of flop cards selected from the card deck;   receiving at least one of a bet, a call, and a fold from each of the plurality of players in response to selection of the plurality of flop cards, wherein the bet received from a player contributes a bet amount to a pot associated with a round of the card game, wherein the call received from a player matches a bet amount previously received from the player, wherein the fold received from a player forfeits the player from winning the pot in the round of the card game;   displaying at least one turn card selected from the card deck;   displaying at least one river card selected from the card deck;   forming a plurality of hands corresponding to the plurality of players, wherein a hand corresponding to a player comprises the at least one hand card associated with the player and at least one community card selected from a plurality of community cards comprising the plurality of flop cards, the at least one turn card, and the at least one river card, wherein each of the plurality of hands is associated with a hand rank, wherein the hand rank associated with a hand is based on at least one of a plurality of card ranks associated with a plurality of cards comprised in the hand and a count of the plurality of cards associated with a card rank;   identifying a winning hand from the plurality of hands, wherein the hand rank associated with the winning hand is greater than the hand rank associated with every other hand of the plurality of hands; and   rewarding the player associated with the winning hand.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hand card selection is received from each of the plurality of players in a sequence, wherein a beginning of the sequence corresponds to each of the plurality of players in a plurality of rounds of the card game respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hand card comprises two hand cards. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the count of the plurality of hand cards is greater than the count of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the count of the plurality of hand cards is equal to sixteen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hand card selection comprises a first hand card selection and a second hand card selection, wherein the first hand card selection selects at least one first hand card from a first plurality of hand cards, wherein the second hand card selection selects at least one second hand card from a second plurality of hand cards, wherein the first hand card selection is performed prior to displaying of the plurality of flop cards, wherein the second hand card selection is performed subsequent to displaying of the plurality of flop cards. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first hand card selection and the second hand card selection is received from each of the plurality of players in a first sequence and a second sequence respectively, wherein a beginning of the first sequence associated with the first hand selection corresponds to a first player of the plurality of players, wherein a beginning of the second sequence associated with the second hand selection is associated with a second player adjacent to the first player. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising mucking at least one hand card from the plurality of hand cards, wherein the at least one hand card is not selected by any of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising burning at least one card prior to displaying of at least one of the plurality of flop cards, the at least one turn card, and the at least one river card. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the winning hand comprises at least two pairs of cards, wherein each card of a pair of cards is associated with an identical card rank, and wherein a card rank associated with at least one of the two pairs is at least equal to ten. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reward is equal to the initial bet and the call received from the player. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bet comprises a bonus bet, wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a bonus winning hand from the plurality of hands, wherein the bonus winning hand is characterized by at least a two pair; and   rewarding the bonus bet to the player associated with the bonus winning hand.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one token corresponding to the player comprises a visual indication unique to the player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the visual indication comprises at least one of a shape, a size, a color, and a pattern associated with the at least one token. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the card game is played on a surface, wherein the surface comprises a plurality of player areas corresponding to the plurality of players, wherein a player area corresponding to the player comprises the visual indication unique to the player. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the plurality of hand cards comprises placing the plurality of hand cards in a face-up position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising drawing the plurality of hand cards from a plurality of full-deck cards, wherein the plurality of full-deck cards is shuffled. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of full-deck cards comprises five full decks of cards. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one hand card selection comprises:
 placing a first token proximal to a common hand card of the plurality of hand cards, wherein the first token corresponds to a first player; and   placing a second token proximal to the common hand card, wherein the second token corresponds to a second player.